Blackberry plant named ‘HJ-7’

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct blackberry which originates from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross of two, non-patented varieties; ‘Obsidian’ as the female and ‘Eaton’ as the male. This new, trailing cultivar can be distinguished by it&#39;s consistant, large fruit size and appearance during the early spring and summer period for the fresh market. The fruit of this cultivar is produced on red, strong, thorny canes. When plants are grown and pruned correctly, yield in Central California, USA can be up to 4,500 crates/ac if the fruit is handled and shipped correctly.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rubus ursinus.

Variety denomination: ‘HJ-7’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct trailing blackberry variety designated as ‘HJ-7’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors, Harold A. Johnson Jr. and Judith E. Johnson, in 2005 between the blackberry variety designated ‘Obsidian’ (female) and the blackberry variety designated ‘Eaton’ (male), both parental varieties unpatented. The variety ‘HJ-7’ is botanically known as Rubus ursinus.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot near Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. in 2007 by the inventors. After its selection, the new variety was further asexually propagated beginning in October of 2007 in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Calif. by tissue culture. The new variety was then tested in fruiting fields in Santa Cruz County, Calif. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘HJ-7’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties in Calif., and is being tested in Southern California, and in Europe. ‘HJ-7’ has reacted favorably to the coastal climates of northern coastal California, but for maximum fruit production, ‘HJ-7’ requires consistent soil moisture and adequate nutrition. ‘HJ-7’ reacts favorably to an environment created by plastic tunnels.

The following traits have been observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘HJ-7’, which in combination distinguish this blackberry plant as a new and distinct variety.

-   -   1. consistent early spring production of large size, good         quality fruit.     -   2. Medium to large fruit size responds favorably to careful         packing when shipped in 6 oz. clamshell baskets;     -   3. thorny and trailing plant structure; and     -   4. Early spring fruit production, starting in May, with peak         production in early June, and continued, limited production         through June and further, when grown in Santa Cruz County,         Calif.

When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-7’ is compared to the female parental variety ‘Obsidian’, the following trait differences have been observed:

-   -   1. The peak fruit production of ‘HJ-7’ occurs slightly earlier         than ‘Obsidian’, and earlier than most trailing and erect types;     -   2. in holding testing after picking, the average flavor rating         was the same, but ‘HJ-7’ rated higher in appearance than         ‘Obsidian’ after various days in cold storage;     -   3. ‘HJ-7’ has produced less crates per acre than ‘Obsidian’.     -   4. the average soluble solids concentration of ‘Obsidian’ is         10.8, and ‘HJ-7’ is 12.0.     -   5. the average seed size of ‘HJ-7’ is is 3.82 mm in length and         2.33 mm in width, and ‘Obsidian’ 4.00 mm in length and 1.93 mm         in width.

When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-7’ is compared to the male parental variety ‘Eaton’, the following trait differences have been observed:

-   -   1. ‘HJ-7’ has thorns whereas ‘Eaton’ has no thorns;     -   2. the fruit size and shape of ‘HJ-7’ is medium, and ovate to         elliptical while the fruit size and shape of ‘Eaton’ is small,         and long conic;     -   3. ‘HJ-7’ has determinate inflorescence which limits the number         of peduncles as well as the length and number of each pedicel         per plant leading to a limited number of berries which are         larger in size, whereas ‘Eaton’ has indeterminate inflorescence         which produces a larger number of smaller berries per plant;     -   4. ‘HJ-7’ has an abundant supply of pollen which leads to a         minimum number of malformed fruit, whereas ‘Eaton’ lacks         consistently good pollen at the end of its indeterminate         inflorescences and thus often produces poorly-shaped, small         fruit;     -   5. ‘HJ-7’ has larger leaves than ‘Eaton’; and     -   6. ‘HJ-7’ has stronger overall vegetative strength than ‘Eaton’.

When the new blackberry variety ‘HJ-7’ is compared to the similar variety ‘HJ-6’, the following trait differences have been observed:

-   -   1. the fruit production of ‘HJ-6’ occurs later in the season         than ‘HJ-7’;     -   2. the overall (total season) production of ‘HJ-6’ is greater         than that of ‘HJ-7’;     -   3. the average berry size of ‘HJ-6’ (8-10 g) is larger than the         average berry size of ‘HJ-7’ (6-7 g);     -   4. the leaf color of ‘HJ-6’ is lighter in early June (7.5 GY4-4)         than the leaf color of ‘HJ-7’ at the same point in the season         (7.5 GY3-2); and     -   5. ‘HJ-6’ is considered superior to ‘HJ-7’ in side-by-side         flavor test results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new blackberry variety, ‘HJ-7’ as true as reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Plants shown in the photographs are two years old.

FIG. 1, taken May 18, 2009 illustrates typical early fruit during May showing large, circular berries with large drupelets. This is in contrast to subsequest fruit production which becomes medium ovate in outline. FIG. 1 also illustrates floricanes at two stages of maturity; the darker cane being the more mature. The pedicels and peduncles both have thorns; some pointed outward and some downward. The leaflets have bi-serrate serrations and are ovate with an acuminate to acute apex.

FIG. 2, taken in October 2009, illustrates the typical large fruit produced by ‘HJ-7’ that is long-conical to oblong in shape, contains large droplets, and is present in all by the early season crop. There are thorns on some pedicels. FIG. 2 further illustrates the typical foliage produced by ‘HJ-7’; that comprises mostly 5 leaflets, each leaflet being ovate in shape, with an acuminate to acute apex, bi-serrate serrations, and palmate venation. The leaf petiole, as well as, the fruit peduncle, as further illustrated in FIG. 2, has a red surface.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of ‘HJ-7’ unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons in Santa Cruz County, Calif. The plants observed were two years old. The phenotypical descriptions and color designations stated for the new variety may vary, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, location and cultural conditions. ‘HJ-7’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.

Table 1 provides a botanical comparison of ‘HJ-7’ to the following two (2) unpatented, commercially grown varieties in Santa Cruz County, Calif.: (1) ‘Obsidian’, a trailing, semi-erect, thorny and early ripening variety (female parental variety, unpatented), and (2) ‘HJ-6’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,270), a sibling to ‘HJ-7’.

TABLE 1 Comparison Comparison Variety 1 ‘HJ-6’ Variety 2 CHARAC- (U.S. Plant Pat. OBSIDIAN New Variety TERISTIC No. 23,270) (unpatented) ‘HJ-7’ Plant Form Growth Habit Trailing, Trailing, Trailing-semi semi-upright semi-upright -upright Plant Height 4 to 5 feet 4 to 5 feet 4 to 5 feet Suckering Abundant Abundant Abundant Branching Indeterminate Indeterminant Indeterminate Cane Texture Thorny Thorny Thorny Hardiness Very Hardy Very Hardy Very Hardy Canes hair on new Hair on new hair on new growth growth growth Diameter- Large-1.8 cm Medium-1.2 cm Med to Large Primocane 1.2-2.0 cm Floricane Same Diameter Same Diameter Same Diameter Immature Round to Angular Round to Angular Round to Primocane Angular Mature Primocane Internode Length Color Prickles Red to green Red to Green Red to Green Mature Canes All red 2.5R 2/2 Upper side red Upper side red 2.5R 2/6 2.5R2/6 Foliage Robust, large Robust, Robust, leaves medium leaves medium leaves Predominate Mostly 5; some 3 Mostly 3, some Mostly 3, Number of 4, 5 some 5 Leaflets Leaf Type Mainly palmate Odd palmate to Mainly palmate intermediate Leaf Color Upper Surface 5 GY 3/4 5 GY 3/4 5GY 3/2 Lower Surface 7.5 GY 5/6 7.5 GY 5/6 7.5 GY6/6 Central Leaflet Ovate with Ovate with acute Ovate with Shape acuminate apex to acuminate apex acuminate apex Leaflet Relief Medium Strong Strong Between Veins Spine Attitude Outward, Mainly outward Outward and some down many down Serrations of Shallow Shallow Shallow Leaflets Leaf Incision Bi-serrate Bi-serrate Bi-serrate of Margin Pubescence Infrequent, no Abundant, no Infrequent, no glandular hairs glandular hairs glandular hairs Petioles Width 2.41 mm 1.5-2.0 mm 1.5-2.0 mm Color Top-2.5R2/2; Predom 5GY Predom5GY Bottom 5GY2/2 2/2 2/2 Texture Smooth w small Predom smooth Smooth thorns Length 4-6 cm 3-5 cm 2-3 cm Flowers Blooming Period Mid March- Early March- Early March- April April April Color Pedicels Short Pedicels Medium Medium 3-6 cm 3-6 cm 3-6 cm Size of Florets Petals Number 5 to 6 5 5 Shape Irregular Irregular Irregular elliptical elliptical elliptical Color WhiteN9.25/ White N9.25/ White N9.25/ 84.2% R 84.2% R 84.2% R Pollen Strong Strong Strong # of Sepals 5-; Length 5 to 5; Length 4 to 5; Length 4 to 10 mm in length; 8 mm. Some 6 mm. Rare some sepal with sepals with leaf leaf extensions leaf extensions extensions on sepals #of Pistils Fruit Productivity Medium--high; High Medium long picking season Time of Late spring to Late May to July May to July Fruiting summer, June-July Size Very large; Medium-large; Medium-large; avg 8 gm avg 6 gm avg 6-8 gm Shape Oblong to conic Elliptical, Oblong to some circular conic; some elliptical in early season Color Immature Green to red Green to red Green to red Mature N1.75/2.5% R N1.75/2.5R N1.75/2.5% R Glossiness Medium to full Medium to full Medium to Full Weight 6 to 12 gm 6 to 8 gm 6 to 10 gm Length 30 to 35 mm 25 to 30 mm 25 to 30 mm Diameter 20 to 25 mm 20 to 25 mm 20 to 30 mm Drupelets Size 3 to 4 mm 4.0 to 5.0 mm 3 to 4.5 mm # per Berry Seed Size Length 3.54 mm; Length 4.00 mm Length 3.82; Width 1.93 mm Width 1.93 mm Width 2.33 mm Weight Soluble Solids 9.2% 10.8% 12.0% pH Yield Ave of 6991 crates/acre 5408 crates/acre 3842 crates/ac 2 yrs avg. Disease/Pest Red Mite Red Mite Red Mite Resistance susceptible susceptible susceptible Uses Fresh Market Fresh Market; Fresh Market Processing When color is identified, the Munsell Book of Color (March 1976) is used. Yield-crates/acre (crate = 4.5 lb) 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rubus ursinus plant named ‘HJ-7’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 